Light diffusion module and a back light module using the same

ABSTRACT

A light diffusion module and a back light module using the same. The light diffusion module is disposed corresponding to the light source module of the back light module. The light diffusion module includes a first diffusion layer and the second diffusion layer. The first diffusion layer is disposed on top of the light source module and the top light exit surface has a plurality of first micro structures juxtapositioned to each other. The second diffusion layer is disposed on top of the first diffusion layer, and the top surface has a plurality of second micro structures juxtapositioned to each other. The ratio of the width of each first micro structure to the width of each second micro structure is between 1.1 and 1.8. The ratio of the height of each first micro structure to the height of each second micro structure is between 0.8 and 1.5.

This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 11/533,846,filed on Sep. 21, 2006 (now U.S. Pat. No. 7,602,459) which claimspriority based on a Taiwanese patent application No. 095102200 filed onJan. 20, 2006, both of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to a light diffusion module anda back light module using the same; particularly, the present inventionrelates to a light diffusion module applied in the liquid crystaldisplay panel and a back light module using the same.

2. Description of the Prior Art

The back light module has been widely applied to liquid crystal displaydevice, computer keyboard, mobile phone key, billboard, and otherdevices which need light source to provide the plain light source.Particularly, the market demands for the liquid crystal display deviceraise rapidly in recent years, the design of the back light moduleapplied to the liquid crystal display device becomes versatile in orderto fulfill the requirement of function and appearance.

However, when the back light module is applied to the liquid crystaldisplay panel, the uniformity of the light emitted from the back lightmodule plays a very important role that influences the overallefficiency of the liquid crystal display panel all the time. Especially,while the size of the liquid crystal display panel grows larger day byday, disposing the lamps of the module vertically downward has become atrendy development of the current back light module. How to uniformlydiffuse the light emitted from the lamps juxtapositioned to each otherand further preventing the condition of excessively bright orexcessively dark in certain areas become an important topic in designingthe liquid crystal display panel.

FIG. 1 a shows a conventional structure to diffuse the light. As FIG. 1a shows, the back light module 10 includes a plurality of lamps 13juxtapositioned to each other and a reflecting plate 15. There is alight controlling board 31 on top of the lamp 13, which functions asleading and controlling the path of the light. The light controllingboard 31 has a diffusion plate 32, which further diffuses the light. Ontop of the diffusion plate 32 is a liquid crystal glass 50. Afterrunning through the light diffusion simulation of the prior artstructure, the light diffusion effect is shown in FIG. 1 b. However asthe area within the dotted line in FIG. 1 b shows, it may be seen thatthose areas where lamps disposed tend to have the phenomenon of lightconcentration, and the darker parts of the weaker luminance area has thecontinuity as well.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a light diffusionmodule to harmonize the light emitting from the light diffusion module.It is another object of the present invention to provide a lightdiffusion module to supply enough luminance of the emitting light. It isa further object of the present invention to provide a back light modulehaving more uniform light sourcing.

The present invention of the back light module includes a light sourcemodule and a light diffusion module. The light source module includes alight exit surface, wherein the light generated from the light sourcemodel 100 emits outwardly through the light exit surface. The lightdiffusion module is disposed corresponding to the light exit surface,includes a first diffusion layer and a second diffusion layer.

The first diffusion layer has a bottom light entrance surface and a toplight exit surface. The bottom light entrance surface is disposedcorresponding to the light exit surface of the light source module. Thetop light exit surface has a plurality of first micro structuresjuxtapositioned to each other. The first micro structure is preferredlinear, having a triangular cross-sectional area. In addition, the firstmicro structure is preferred to be formed on the first diffusion layerby an optical film manufacturing process.

The second diffusion layer is disposed on top of the first diffusionlayer, having a bottom surface and a top surface. The bottom surface isdisposed corresponding to the top light exit surface of the firstdiffusion layer, and the top surface has a plurality of second microstructures juxtapositioned to each other. The second micro structure ispreferred linear, having a triangular cross-sectional area. In addition,the second micro structure is preferred to be attached on the firstdiffusion layer.

The ratio of the width of each first micro structure to the width ofeach second micro structure is between 1.1 and 1.8. The ratio of theheight of each first micro structure to the height of each second microstructure 420 is between 0.8 and 1.5. Under such a design ratio, thelight diffusion module of the present invention may generate a betterlight diffusion effect and may have more uniform emitting light.Further, due to the enhancing effect of the first micro structure andthe second micro structure, it may not cause too much luminance losswhile the light passes through the first diffusion layer and the seconddiffusion layer.

In another embodiment, the light diffusion module further includes athird diffusion layer. The third diffusion layer is disposed between thefirst diffusion layer and the second diffusion layer and the Haze ispreferred over 80%.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The file of this patent contains at least one drawing executed in color.Copies of this patent with the color drawing(s) will be provided by thePatent and Trademark Office upon request and payment of the necessaryfee.

FIG. 1 a shows a prior art of the liquid crystal display panelstructure;

FIG. 1 b shows a simulation diagram of the light distribution whileapplying the structure of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 a;

FIG. 2 is an explosive view of the embodiment of the back light moduleof present invention;

FIG. 3 a is a sectional view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 3 b is a sectional view, similar to the view of FIG. 3 a, of analternative embodiment;

FIG. 4 is an explosive view of another embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a simulation diagram of the light distribution while applyingthe structure of the embodiment shown in FIG. 4;

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The present invention provides a light diffusion module and a back lightmodule using the same. In a preferred embodiment, the back light moduleis provided for the use of a liquid crystal display (LCD) panel. Inanother embodiment, however, the back light module may be also providedfor the use of a PC keyboard, mobile phone keys, billboards and otherdevices which need plane light source. Furthermore, the presentinvention further includes a liquid crystal display panel using thelight diffusion module. In the preferred embodiment, the liquid crystaldisplay panel includes a color liquid crystal display panel. However inanother embodiment, the liquid crystal display panel of the presentinvention includes a mono liquid crystal display panel. The liquidcrystal display device broadly refers to any display device using theliquid crystal panel, which includes a home LCD TV, LCD monitor for PCand laptop, liquid crystal display panel of mobile phone and digitalcamera.

As FIG. 2 shows, the back light module of the present invention includesa light source module 100 and a light diffusion module 300. The lightsource module has a light exit surface 110, preferably with a lamp 130and a reflecting plate 150. The light generated from the light sourcemodel 100 emits outwardly through the light exit surface 110. However inanother embodiment, the light source module 100 may adopt light fromother sources rather than the lamp 130, such as light emitting diode(LED).

As FIG. 3 a shows, the light diffusion module 300 is disposedcorresponding to the light exit surface 110 and is preferred to bedirectly disposed on the light source module 100. The light diffusionmodule 300 mainly includes a first diffusion layer 310 and a seconddiffusion layer 320. In the preferred embodiment, the first diffusionlayer 310 is made of Cyclo Olefin Polymer, (COP). However in anotherembodiment, the first diffusion layer 310 may be made of other organicmaterials, such as polyester, (PET) and polycarbonate, (PC), etc. In thepreferred embodiment, the second diffusion layer 320 preferably includesan optical film and is made of polyester, (PET). However in anotherembodiment, the second diffusion layer may be made of other organicmaterials, such as polycarbonate, (PC).

The first diffusion layer 310 has a bottom light entrance surface 311and a top light exit surface 313. The bottom light entrance surface 311is disposed corresponding to the light exit surface 110 of the lightsource module 100. The top light exit surface 313 has a plurality offirst micro structures 410 juxtapositioned to each other. As theembodiment shown in FIG. 2, the first micro structures 410 have a linearstructure and are disposed in parallel with each other on the top lightexit surface 313. However in another embodiment, the first microstructures 410 may have other different pattern as well. In addition, asFIG. 3 a shows, the cross-sectional area of the first micro structures410 is preferred to be triangular. However in another embodiment, thecross-sectional area of the first micro structures 410 may besemi-circular, polygonal or other kinds of shapes.

The first micro structure 410 is formed on the first diffusion layer 310preferably by an optical film manufacturing process. The optical filmmanufacturing process mentioned here includes etching, photolithography,and deposition. However in another embodiment, the first microstructures 410 may be attached on the first diffusion layer 310 or byother approaches. In addition, the first micro structure 410 may be madeof the material the same as the first diffusion layer 310. However inanother embodiment, the first micro structure 410 may be made of othermaterial, such as polymethy methacrylate, (PMMA), too.

As FIG. 3 a shows, the second diffusion layer 320 is disposed on top ofthe first diffusion layer 310. The second diffusion layer 320 has abottom surface 321 and a top surface 323, and the bottom surface 321 isdisposed corresponding to the top light exit surface 313 of the firstdiffusion layer 310. The top surface 323 has a plurality of second microstructures 420 juxtapositioned to each other. As the embodiment shown inFIG. 2, the second micro structures 420 have a linear structure and aredisposed in parallel with each other on the top light exit surface 323.However in another embodiment, the second micro structures 420 may haveother different pattern as well. In addition, as FIG. 3 a shows, thecross-sectional area of the second micro structures 420 is preferred tobe triangular. However in another embodiment, the cross-sectional areaof the second micro structures 420 may be semi-circular, polygonal orhave other shapes.

As FIG. 2 shows, the first micro structure 410 and the second microstructure 420 are preferably disposed along the same direction, in otherwords, the first micro structure 410 and the second micro structure 420extend along the same direction. In addition, the first micro structure410 and the second micro structure 420 are preferably disposed inparallel with the direction of the lamp 130.

The second micro structure 420 is preferred to be attached on the firstdiffusion layer 310. However in another embodiment, the second microstructure 420 may be integrated on the second diffusion layer 320 by anoptical film manufacturing process or by other approaches. The opticalfilm manufacturing process mentioned here includes etching,photolithography, and deposition. Further, in the preferred embodiment,the second micro structures 420 may be made of polymethy methacrylate,(PMMA). However in another embodiment, the second micro structures 420may be made of the material the same as the second diffusion layer 320or other different material.

As FIG. 3 a shows, the first micro structure 410 has a first width P₁and the second micro structure 420 has a second width P₂. The ratio ofthe first width P₁ to the second width P₂ is between 1.1 and 1.8. Inother words, the first width P₁ is 1.1 to 1.8 times wider than thesecond width P₂. In the preferred embodiment, the first width P₁ isbetween 65 μm and 75 μm and the second width P₂ is between 48 μm and 52μm. With the above-mentioned ratios, the light diffusion module of thepresent invention may obtain an improved light diffusion effect and thusoutput more evenly diffused light.

In the preferred embodiment, each of the first micro structure 410 hasan equivalent first width P₁. However, as shown in FIG. 3 b, in anotherembodiment, the width of each first micro structure 410 is unnecessarilythe same as that of the other first micro structure 410. That is, notall the first micro-structures 410 have the same first width P₁. Certainfirst micro structures 410 have a third width P₃ different from thefirst width P₁. Still, the ratio of the third width P₃ to the secondwidth P₂ is between 1.1 and 1.8.

Similarly, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 3 b, the width of each secondmicro structure 420 is unnecessarily the same as that of the othersecond micro structures 420. That is, not all the second microstructures 420 have the same second width P₂. Certain second microstructures 420 have a fourth width P₄ different from the second widthP₂. Still, the ratio of the first width P₁ to the fourth width P₄ isbetween 1.1 and 1.8.

As the preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 3 a, each of the first microstructure 410 has a first height H₁, and each of the second structure420 has a second height H₂. The ratio of the first height H₁ to thesecond height H₂ is between 0.8 and 1.5. In other words, the firstheight H₁ is between the ranges of 0.8 to 1.5 times of the second heightH₂. Further, in another preferred embodiment, the first height H₁ isbetween 22 μm and 26 μm and the second height H₂ is between 23 μm and 27μm.

In the preferred embodiment, each of the first micro structure 410 hasan equivalent first height H₁. However, as shown in FIG. 3 b, in anotherembodiment, the height of each first micro structure 410 isunnecessarily the same as that of the other first micro structures 410.That is, not all the first micro structures 410 have the first heightH₁. Certain first micro structures 410 have a third height H₃ differentfrom the first height H₁. Still, the ratio of the third height H₃ to thesecond height H₂ is between 0.8 and 1.5.

Similarly, in another embodiment shown in FIG. 3 b, the height of eachsecond micro structure 420 is unnecessarily the same as that of theother second micro structures 420. That is, not all the second microstructures 420 have the second height H₂. Certain second microstructures 420 have a fourth height H₄ different from the second heightH₂. Still, the ratio of the first height H₁ to the fourth height H₄ isbetween 0.8 and 1.5.

As the embodiment shown in FIG. 3 a, the light enters the firstdiffusion layer 310 from the bottom light entrance surface 311 of thefirst diffusion layer 310 after emitted from the light exit surface 110of the light source module 100. As soon as the light is processed by thefirst micro structure 410, it is emitted from the top light exit surface313, and it enters the second diffusion layer 320 and becomes an evenlydiffused light source after processed by the second micro structure 420.In addition, due to the enhancing effect of the first micro structure410 and the second micro structure 420, it may not cause too muchluminance loss while the light passes through the first diffusion layer310 and the second diffusion layer 320.

FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 shows another embodiment of the present invention. Inthe embodiment, the light diffusion module 300 further includes a thirddiffusion layer 330. The third diffusion layer 330 is disposed betweenthe first diffusion layer 310 and the second diffusion layer 320. Thatis, before entering the second diffusion layer 320, the light will enterthe third diffusion layer 330 after emitting from the top light exitsurface 313 of the first diffusion layer 310. After processed by thethird diffusion layer 330, the light enters the second diffusion layer320 from the third diffusion layer 330.

The haze value of the third diffusion layer is preferred over 80%. Inthe preferred embodiment, the third diffusion layer 330 has a pluralityof micro molecule structures, making the third diffusion layer to haveenough haze value to produce the diffusion effect. In the preferredembodiment, the third diffusion layer 330 is an optical diffusion film,made of polyester, (PET). However, in another embodiment, the thirddiffusion layer 330 may be made of other organic material, such aspolycarbonate, (PC) etc.

FIG. 6 shows a simulation diagram of the light distribution fromapplying the structure of the embodiment shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5,wherein the dark area is the area with weaker light while the undertonearea is the area with stronger luminance. As FIG. 6 shows, the light atthe undertone area has been uniformly diffused, which also mixes withthe light at the dark area without concentration in luminance. From theabove, it is known that the light emitted from the lamp 130 in the lightsource module 100 has been uniformly diffused, in other words, the lightdiffusion module 300 has the characteristic with a more even lightdistribution compared to the prior art.

In addition to raising the evenness of the light source will notjeopardize the luminance of the output light. Taking the embodimentshown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 as an example, when the embodiment is appliedin a 32-inch liquid crystal display panel, it will need no more thantwelve lamps 130 disposed in the light source module 100 to create theluminance of 400 cd/m² (NIT) or even the luminance of 500 NIT. In theembodiment of the 37-inch panel, it will need no more than fourteenlamps 130 to reach the same NIT mentioned above. As for the panel sizedfrom 45 inches to 47 inches, no more than twenty lamps 130 are needed tocreate the same luminance mentioned above.

Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have beendescribed herein, the above description is merely illustrative. Furthermodification of the invention herein disclosed will occur to thoseskilled in the respective arts and all such modifications are deemed tobe within the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

1. A light diffusion module for use with a back light module,comprising: a first diffusion layer including a bottom light entrancesurface and a top light exit surface, wherein said top light exitsurface has a plurality of first micro structures juxtapositioned toeach other, at least a part of said first micro structures have a firstheight; and a second diffusion layer disposed above said first diffusionlayer, including a bottom surface and a top surface, wherein said bottomsurface is disposed opposite to said top light exit surface of saidfirst diffusion layer, said top surface has a plurality of second microstructures juxtapositioned to each other, at least a part of said secondmicro structure have a second height; wherein a ratio of said firstheight to said second height is between 0.8 and 1.5.
 2. The lightdiffusion module of claim 1, wherein said first height is between 22 μmand 26 μm.
 3. The light diffusion module of claim 1, wherein said secondheight is between 23 μm and 27 μm.
 4. The light diffusion module ofclaim 1, wherein at least a part of said first micro structures have athird height different from said first height, the ratio of said thirdheight to said second height is between 0.8 and 1.5.
 5. The lightdiffusion module of claim 1, wherein at least a part of said secondmicro structures have a fourth height different from said second height,the ratio of said first height to said fourth height is between 0.8 and1.5.
 6. The light diffusion module of claim 1 further comprising a thirddiffusion layer, disposed between said first diffusion layer and saidsecond diffusion layer, wherein a haze value of said third diffusionlayer is over 80%.
 7. The light diffusion module of claim 6, whereinsaid third diffusion layer is made of Polyester, (PET).
 8. The lightdiffusion module of claim 1, wherein said first micro structure and saidsecond micro structure are disposed along the same direction.
 9. Thelight diffusion module of claim 1, wherein said first diffusion layerincludes a diffuser plate disposed on said light diffusion module. 10.The light diffusion module of claim 1, wherein the material of saidfirst diffusion layer is made of Cyclo Olefin Polymer, (COP).
 11. Thelight diffusion module of claim 1, wherein said first micro structure isattached to said first diffusion layer.
 12. The light diffusion moduleof claim 1, wherein said first micro structure is formed on said firstdiffusion layer by an optical membrane manufacturing process.
 13. Thelight diffusion module of claim 12, wherein said optical filmmanufacturing process includes an etching process.
 14. The lightdiffusion module of claim 12, wherein said optical film manufacturingprocess includes a lithography process.
 15. The light diffusion moduleof claim 1, wherein said first micro structure is made of Polymethylmethacrylate, (PMMA).
 16. The light diffusion module of claim 1, whereinsaid second diffusion layer includes an optical thin film.
 17. The lightdiffusion module of claim 16, wherein the material of said optical filmis selected from a group of Polyester, PET, Polycarbonate, PC and anycombination therefrom.
 18. The light diffusion module of claim 1,wherein said second micro structure is attached to said second diffusionlayer.
 19. The light diffusion module of claim 1, wherein said secondmicro structure is formed on said second diffusion layer by an opticalfilm manufacturing process.
 20. The light diffusion module of claim 19,wherein said optical film manufacturing process includes an etchingprocess.
 21. The light diffusion module of claim 19, wherein saidoptical film manufacturing process includes a lithography process. 22.The light diffusion module of claim 1, wherein said second microstructure is made of Polymethyl methacrylate, (PMMA).
 23. The lightdiffusion module of claim 1, wherein said first micro structure has atriangular cross section.
 24. The light diffusion module of claim 1,wherein said second micro structure has a triangular cross section. 25.The light diffusion module of claim 1, wherein a ratio of said firstwidth to said second width is between 1.1 and 1.8.
 26. The lightdiffusion module of claim 1, wherein said first width is between 65 μmand 75 μm.
 27. The light diffusion module of claim 1, wherein saidsecond width is between 48 μm and 52 μm.
 28. The light diffusion moduleof claim 1, wherein at least a part of said first micro structures havea third width different from said first width, the ratio of said thirdwidth to said second width is between 1.1 and 1.8.
 29. The lightdiffusion module of claim 1, wherein at least a part of said secondmicro structures have a fourth width different from said second width,the ratio of said first width to said fourth width is between 1.1 and1.8.
 30. A back light module, comprising: a light source module, havinga light exit surface; and a light diffusion module of claim 1 disposedcorresponding to said light exit surface.
 31. A liquid crystal displaydevice using the light diffusion module of claim 1, wherein said liquidcrystal display device is selected from a group of liquid crystal TV,liquid crystal monitor, liquid crystal display panel of mobile phone andliquid crystal display panel of digital camera.
 32. A manufacturingmethod of a light diffusion module for use with a back light module,comprising: disposing a first diffusion layer on the back light module,wherein the first diffusion layer includes a bottom light entrancesurface and a top light exit surface, the first diffusion layer has aplurality of first micro structures juxtapositioned to each other, andat least a part of the first micro structures have a first width and afirst height; disposing a second diffusion layer on the first diffusionlayer, wherein the second diffusion layer includes a bottom surface anda top surface, the bottom surface is disposed in opposition to the toplight exit surface of the first diffusion layer, the top surface has aplurality of second micro structures juxtapositioned to each other, andat least a part of the second micro structure have a second width and asecond height; and adjusting a ratio of the first height to the secondheight between 0.8 and 1.5.
 33. The manufacturing method of claim 32,further comprising: adjusting a ratio of the first width to the secondwidth between 1.1 and 1.8.
 34. The manufacturing method of claim 33,further comprising: adjusting at least a part of the first microstructures from the first width to a third width, wherein the ratio ofthe third width to the second width is between 1.1 and 1.8.
 35. Themanufacturing method of claim 33, further comprising: adjusting at leasta part of the second micro structures from the second width to a fourthwidth, wherein the ratio of the first width to the fourth width isbetween 1.1 and 1.8.
 36. The manufacturing method of claim 32, furthercomprising: adjusting a part of the first micro structures from thefirst height to a third height, wherein the ratio of the third height tothe second height is between 0.8 and 1.5.
 37. The manufacturing methodof claim 32, further comprising: adjusting a part of the second microstructures from the second height to a fourth height, wherein the ratioof the first height to the fourth height is between 0.8 and 1.5.